1840 - 1921

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• Birth	23 Oct 1840	Oberlin, Lorain, OH
  Gender	Male
  Died	10 Apr 1921	Bellingham, Whatcom, WA
  	Cause: Cerebral Hemorrhage
  Buried	21 Apr 1921	Bayview Cemetery, Bellingham, Whatcom, WA
  Person ID	I129770	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	27 Oct 2005 00:00:00
  Father	Robert Edwin GILLETT, b. 23 Jun 1809, Mesopotamia, OH
  Mother	Lucy KELLOGG, b. 2 May 1811, Galway, Saratoga, NY
  Family ID	F32586	Group Sheet
  Family	Letitia Sofronia POWERS, b. 4 May 1843, Henrietta, Lorain, OH
  Married	2 May 1864	Sparta, WI
  Children	1. Freddy K GILLETTE   2. Theodore Stanley GILLETTE, b. 6 Jan 1868, Waverly, IA > 3. Halbert Powers GILLETTE, b. 5 Aug 1869, Waverly, Bremer Co., IA   4. Harry Kellogg GILLETTE, b. 14 Mar 1871, Waverly, IA > 5. Walter Arthur GILLETTE, b. 27 Dec 1875, Waverly, IA
  Family ID	F5523	Group Sheet

• Notes

  Search Results Database: Texas Census, 1820-90 Combined Matches: 1 Database: Civil War Service Records Combined Matches: 1 Surname Given Name Middle Initial Company Unit Rank - Induction Rank - Discharge Notes Allegiance Gillette Theodore W. I 4 Wisconsin Cavalry. Private Com. Union Year Surname Given Name (s) County State Page Township or Other Info Record Type Database ID# 1880 GILLETTE THEODORE Duval County TX 229 San Diego Fed Pop Schedule TX 1880 Federal Census Index TX28436101 In the early years of statehood, Texas had an awful time protecting its citizens from the denizens of death roaming the countryside. If the Indians and Mexican weren’t dealing destruction on a wide scale, Anglo outlaws and bandits were. A newcomer to the western fringe could practically count on being attacked, and it took someone with a special sort of courage to propose pioneering anywhere outside the most heavily populated settlements. This was an area that was real frontier in the 1870's. GILLETTE, Theodore W. (d. 1921) Head of Fairhaven Water Company and Pioneer Good Roads Advocate Called at Age of 80. Theodore W. Gillette, president of the Fairhaven City Water & Power company, and one of the most public-spirited men Bellingham has ever had, died at his apartments in the Hotel Leopold at 5:15 last night at the age of 80 years, five months and twenty-one days. Mr. Gillette's death comes as a shock to his numerous friends, many of whom did not know that he was seriously ill and those closest to him understanding that he was improving, as he apparently was. The immediate cause of death was a blood clot on the brain. He had been feeling unwell since he made a strenuous automobile drive to Seattle and back, and this, says his brother, Fred K. Gillette, was the beginning of his final illness, which kept him in bed about ten days. Friends of Mr. Gillette agree that he was one of the finest characters this city has ever known and that he was one of its greatest promoters. From the beginning of his residence here, extending over a period of more than thirty years, he was identified with the city's growth. The same was true of all other places where he lived, it being his nature to be among the leaders of a community and to be one of its hardest workers. Came Here is 1889. Mr. Gillette came to Bellingham bay in 1889, after a busy life in Texas, Idaho and other places and after long service in the Civil war. He spent a very adventurous life, it being recalled by his brother that about thirty of his friends were killed by Indians, bandits, etc., in Southeastern Texas, where he spent several years as a sheep farmer. Mr. Gillette was born in Oberlin, O., October 20, 1840. In June, 1861, he became a volunteer in the union army, enlisting as a private in Company M, Fourth Wisconsin Mounted Infantry, and serving in that until his honorable discharge September 18, 1866. This regiment probably saw longer service than any other volunteer regiment in the Civil war. Mr. Gillette's willingness and eagerness to serve soon won him promotion. For some time he was regimental quartermaster, then brigade quartermaster and lastly lieutenant. In the midst of the war he went back home to be married and immediately thereafter returned to his regiment. His wife, Mrs. Letitia S. Gillette, died October 11, 1920. Good Roads Enthusiast. After his discharge from the army, Mr. Gillette went back home for a time. In 1872 he removed to Southeastern Texas and from there after six years of sheep farming and many adventures to Salt Lake City, where he lived a year or two, and thence to the Wood mining country in Idaho. In Ketchum he established a hardware store and became active in local affairs was elected to the board of county commissioners and held that office for two terms. Another of his activities was his origination of the water system of Ketchum, Idaho. He took a great interest in good roads and this interest was manifested later in Whatcom county and in Southern California, where for many years he spent his winters, residing in South Pasadena. Coming to Bellingham bay in 1889, he soon afterward organized the Fairhaven City Water & Power company, which owns the South Side water system and was active in the organization and affairs of the Fairhaven Electric Light company. He was president of both concerns. About fifteen years ago he sold the electric light company's property to Stone & Webster interests. Served on County Board. About 1892 Mr. Gillette was elected a member of the board of Whatcom county commissioners and two years later was re-elected. In politics he was a republican all his life, and he was enthusiastic in service to his party as he was in everything else he interested himself in. Loyalty and service, in fact, were two of his strongest characteristics, and self-sacrifice and devotion to family and friends were others. Mr. Gillette was a member of Fairhaven Lodge, No. 73, F. & A. M.; C. R. Apperson post No. 79, of the G. A. R.; and the Loyal Legion, an organization of officers of the Civil war, his membership in this society being held in Tacoma. He was also a member of the Kulshan club and of the Chamber of Commerce. The survivors are two sons, Halbert P. Gillette, of Chicago, one of the country's best known civil engineers, and Walter A. Gillette, of South Pasadena, Calif.; one brother, Fred K. Gillette, Bellingham, and two sisters, Mrs. E. H. Ellis and Mrs. Julia K. Adams, of Sacramento. Funeral services will be held at an hour to be announced by Harry O. Bingham. One son, Halbert, will be here Thursday and the other is expected. Expression of Regret by J. J. Donovan "T. W. Gillette, facing death with a smile, light of heart and brave in spirit, has passed on to join his loved ones on the other side. A gallant gentleman is gone after a long life of usefulness and honor. Truth, honor, justice were his guiding stars and he was true to them in times and places where it required the highest type of moral and physical courage. He feared neither man nor devil. He trusted and believed in god and kept His law. He has gone to his reward. "As a youth under twenty-one he enlisted in the Wisconsin cavalry and he served with distinction through the Civil war, leaving the service with the brevet rank of major. He fought in many hand-to-had conflicts with Confederate cavalry and was severely hurt when his horse went down in one of these battles, but he refused to retire and was on duty until the end. "After the war he undertook with a friend ranching in Texas. His friend was killed by Mexican raiders, his stock stolen and for the sake of his young wife and children he retired from the Southern frontier and came West. "As an assayer, merchant and county commissioner he had an honorable part in the development of the Wood River district of Idaho. His reminiscences of life in the mines, of the mingling of the adventurous of all ranks, were most delightful and unvalled (sic) Bret Harte in character and color. "Coming to Bellingham bay in 1889 with his friends, Major and Mrs. Darling, Governor and Mrs. George A. Black and others, Mr. Gillette and his family immediately became factors in the business and social life of the young city. His home and business interests have been here ever since excepting as Mrs. Gillette's failing health in recent years required her to spend her winters in Pasadena. "Mr. Gillette's company put in the water and electric light system for Fairhaven and he was active manager of the water system in which he took keen interest and pride until the end. As county commissioner, he gave this county loyal and valuable services during the panic times of '93. He had the vision to see the future of this county and may truly be called the father of our county road system, which R. L. Kline and others carried on and which J. B. McMillan and associates have brought near completion. Good roads, good water, good citizenship were articles of faith with him. "Though over eighty years old his form was erect, his eye clear and his faculties unimpaired. His wife's death last October ended many years of tireless devotion. It was a hard blow. He tried bravely to keep the old smile and undying optimism but the wound was there. Yesterday at 5 o'clock the end came quickly and painlessly. A well-spent life was ended. The brother and two sons with their families have the sympathy of the entire community." (From The Bellingham Herald, April 11, 1921)